Miguel Espinosa was born and raised in Queens, New York.  Miguel graduated Cum Laude from Nova Southeastern University (NSU) with a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies and minors in Paralegal Studies and Philosophy.  While attending NSU, he was a member of the Mock Trial Association.

After graduating NSU, Miguel attended NSU Shepard Board College of Law and earned his Juris Doctorate upon graduating Magna Cum Laude.  While in law school, Miguel was a Senior Associate of the Nova Law Review, member of the Nova Trial Association, and Treasurer of the Intellectual Property Law Society.  Miguel also interned for former Chief Magistrate Judge Andrea Simonton for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

After admission to the Florida Bar, Miguel litigated cases pertaining to First and Third Party Property Insurance, Personal Injury, Medical Mal-Practice, and Construction in Federal, State, and County Court, and has since joined Vernis & Bowling in the Directors and Officers, Errors and Omissions, and Employment Labor Department of the Firm’s Miami office.

Miguel takes pride in not only being zealous litigator, but also his open line of communication with clients, making sure their objectives are achieved.  When he is not bemoaning the Jets, Miguel enjoys playing guitar and spending time with his family, including his three-legged cat, Gugu.

Brandt Carlson joined Vernis & Bowling in March 2020, when he relocated his legal practice from Sarasota to St. Petersburg. Brandt’s prior litigation experience includes a wide variety of disciplines, ranging from commercial, construction, and complex civil defense to judgment collection and employment law. His primary exposure has been in handling insurance defense, major commercial disputes, and construction litigation in state and federal courts throughout Florida, where he has practiced since August 2015.

Brandt received his J.D. from the University of Florida, cum laude, in May 2015. During his time at the University of Florida, Brandt served as an editor for the Florida Journal of International Law and as an advocate on the prestigious Florida Moot Court Team, where he received the American College of Trial Lawyers Medal for Excellence in Advocacy. As a law student, Brandt spent his summers clerking for the Honorable Steven D. Merryday in the Middle District of Florida and interning for small firms specializing in first-party insurance litigation, employment law, and personal injury matters.

Brandt also pursued his undergraduate studies at the University of Florida, where he majored in Political Science and Economics with a minor in Philosophy. He graduated summa cum laude in May 2011 after publishing his senior thesis on election turnout in the United States.

Brandt was raised in Riverview, Florida, and has lived and worked in multiple locations throughout the Sunshine State. In his free time, Brandt enjoys traveling, movies, and the great outdoors.

Mike is an attorney at Vernis & Bowling of North Florida, P.A., in Jacksonville, Florida. He represents insureds, self- insureds, individuals, national corporations, domestic and public companies, and non-profit organizations in complex insurance and business litigation matters at both the state and federal levels. Mike maintains a concentrated practice in pre-trial litigation, including client interviews, drafting complex motions and pleadings, developing litigation strategies, and conducting
and defending depositions. While he has second chaired jury trials in state and federal court, Mike understands the practical and economic factors associated with litigation and regularly obtains settlements that serve his client’s interests at mediation.

Mike grew up in Johnstown, Pennsylvania where his family owned and operated a dairy business. The non-negotiable core values of honesty, accountability, and ethics were instilled in him at an early age and operate as the foundation for maintaining the reputations of he and his clients with courts, adversaries, and peers.

Prior to joining Vernis & Bowling, Mike worked for one of the nation’s premier trial law firms, where he honed his litigation experience by handling all stages of high stakes civil litigation from investigations to discovery and throughout trial. Clients and colleagues alike have remarked on his aptitude for diagnosing problems, identifying innovative solutions, and making those solutions a reality. With a work ethic that is unmatched, Mike is adept at managing deadlines, multi-tasking, and coordinating litigation strategies in a fast-paced environment. He enjoys condensing otherwise-complex issues for the fact-finder through the effective and impactful presentation of information. And in every case, he is committed to efficiently and economically meeting his client’s objectives.

Mike met his Wife, Melinda, in law school and attributes much of his professional success to her creativity and counsel over the years. Together, they are devoted to the community and cherish every day with their two young daughters playing golf, riding bikes, and taking family trips to the beaches along the First Coast.

Matthew B. Bernstein was born near Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey, and grew up in Martin County, Florida. Matthew (“Matt”) graduated from the University of Central Florida, cum laude, in 2009 with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Legal Studies. In 2013, Matt earned his Juris Doctorate degree from the California Western School of Law in San Diego, California. Upon passing the California bar exam in July 2013, Matt began practicing at a boutique law firm in San Diego where he focused his practice on real property transactions, landlord-tenant disputes, and estate planning.

In 2015, Matt moved back to the Central Florida area and passed the July 2016 Florida bar exam. Since joining Vernis & Bowling, Matt has focused his practice on community based care, director & officer liability, errors & omissions liability, employment liability, first and third party property & casualty claims (including PIP, bodily injury, auto glass, and SIU), and general civil litigation defense.

Matt is the Vernis & Bowling of Central Florida’s Department Managing Attorney for D&O, E&O, and EPL claims. Matt has represented numerous residential and commercial community associations in claims arising from management and resident disputes, as well as professional associations/companies, such as real estate brokerages, in claims arising from alleged disclosure and misrepresentation issues. Matt has defended employers with respect to charges of discrimination filed with the EEOC and litigation regarding alleged ADA violations. Matt also serves as General Counsel for the REALTORS Association of Lake & Sumter Counties.

When he is not working, Matt is enjoying spending time with his lovely wife, Erica, their son, Ari, and their dog, Leia. Matt has attended more than 150 concerts over the past several years and considers himself a history and movie enthusiast.

Kimberly B. Sheridan was born in Frankfurt, Germany where her father was serving in the Army. She grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, but left South Carolina to attend college in Georgia. She fell in love with the State of Georgia and stayed to pursue her life long goal of being an attorney. While attending law school at the University of Georgia, Kimberly worked in the Prosecution Clinic, a program that allowed her to try cases before graduating. Kimberly also participated in the Public Interest Practicum representing women and children who were abused and neglected. Both experiences created a passion for litigation and for being in the courtroom advocating vigorously for her clients.

Kimberly believes in the legal system and works hard to defend her clients’ rights with integrity, diligence and hard work. Kimberly has been a trial lawyer in Atlanta since receiving her Juris Doctorate degree in 1996. She began her legal career as criminal defense attorney and Plaintiff’s lawyer before becoming a prosecutor with the District Attorney’s Offices in Fulton and Gwinnett counties providing her with tremendous experience litigating and trying cases. In 2001, Ms. Sheridan shifted from criminal law and applied her substantial experience in the courtroom to civil defense litigation. Kimberly has handled many jury and bench trials. She has defended and deposed numerous parties, witnesses, and experts and drafted and argued countless motions. Kimberly has also written and won many appellate arguments.

Kimberly Sheridan is the Managing Attorney for Vernis and Bowling of Atlanta, LLC. With two (2) decades of trial experience, she has developed a diverse litigation practice that includes automobile liability, premises liability (including slip & fall and negligent security), trucking litigation, products liability, employment defense and wrongful death. With an extensive knowledge of both the law and its practical application, Kimberly works with clients to resolve complex disputes per mediation, negotiated settlement, or trial resolution.  She is admitted to practice in Georgia and the U.S. District Courts in Georgia, the Georgia Court of Appeals and Supreme Court of Georgia.

Outside of work, Kimberly enjoys spending time with her husband and five children. Kimberly is an avid painter and has sold her paintings throughout Georgia.